New-York tribune., 1887-11-21
TO ,-c, ruc peeno ot which wa. lost, a. was also tho


have stirred Darwin to burning zeal TO add even tho
most humble contribution to the noble structure OF
natural science"
In 1881 he went on his famous voyage as naturalist
OF the Beagle. His father at first opposed to the
expedition, but persuaded by Josiah "sdgwood,
his uncle He tells this curious story about the cpl
sOde
Aferward becoming very Intimate with ftz.
Roy ! heard that had very rarr0w FISK OF
being rejected on account OF the shape OF my noSo
He was an ardent disciple Of Lavatcr and was CON
vinccd that he could judge OF a mans character by
the outline Of his features and he doubted whether
anv one with my could possess siffcicn energy
and determination for the voyage. But think he
was afterward we'll satisfied that my nose had spoken
falsely
The voyage Of the Beagle lasted five years Darwin
considered it by far the most important event. In his
life and SAYS that It "dctermincd my whole career
vet It depended on small circumstance as my uncle
Offering 10 drive me thirty miles TO Shrewsbury, which
few uncles would have dcnc and on such trc as the
shape of my nose" From being passionate sports
man. he not to care about sport at all He says
Looking backward, now perceive how my love
for science gradually prcpondci ated over every ohc
taste. During the first two years my Ola pa>Nl"h i"'
shooting survived I'm nearly full force, and shot my
self all the birds and animals for my collection tlt
gradually gave up my gun moro and moro. and finally
altogether to my servant, as shooting ihierfercd win
my work. more especially with making ont the geo
logical structure of a country. discovcrcd though
uncon jcouSly aud inScnSibly, that the pleasure OF
Observing and reasoning was a much higher one 'hah
that of SIKH and sport. That NV mind became dc
vclopcd through nv pursuits during the voyage IS
rendered probable by a remark made 10y my ia'hcr'
who was The most acute observer whom ever saw
of a sccptca disposition and far from being De
lever In phrenCOgy for on iist seeing mo amer inc
VOYAGE he turned round TO my sisters, and exclaimed
"Why the shape Of his head is quite altered
Darwin's hca IN had lccn robust. While at sea
he suffered greatly from sea sickness. ON r"urhlhs
home he wa more delicate than ever, and he at no
time after rcgancd his health though he able 80
perform an immense deal OF work by his Industry and
habits In 1880 he married, and in lo42
bought and moved to the house at Dover where the
remainder Of his life was spent. He met many cmi-
ncnt men I'm London and has odd stories of enc or
two The following of Lord starhopc father Of Lord
Mahon, the historian
Long ago l dined occasionally with the CID Earl.
the father Of the historian he was strange man. but
what little knew Of him ! liked much. lie was
frank. genial and pleasant. lie had strongly Darhri
features, with brown cCmpl, xion and his clothes,
when ! saw him. were all brown lie seemed to be-
leve In everything which was to Others utterly In
credible IIc said day to me. "Why don't y0u
give up your fiddle faddc Of geology and zoology.
and turn to the occult sciences :! The historian then
Lord Mahon seemed shocked at su-h a sIccrh 10 me,
and his charming wife much amused
And this Of Carlyle IS Characteristic;
Tho last man whom will mention IS Carlyle seen
by me several times at my brothers house, and t~o
or three times AT my own house. His talk was very
racy and interesting Just like his writings, but he
sometimes went on too long on the sam, subject |
r member a funny dinner al ms ho'heiS, where
amongst few others. were labbagc and Lycll. both
of whom llbcd 10 talk Carlyle, however shcnccd
every by hardnguing during the whole dinner on
the advantages Of silence. After dinner HAbbaec
In his grimmcst manner thanked Carlyle for his very
lecture on silence.
His life at Dover was very quiet, but fully occupied
and here the "Orlgin of Species and all his subsc-
fra 4.
ails as to his methods of working collecting facts etc.
and indicates In many ways the extremely practical ,dc
Of his character. Indeed 1t is evident from his later
views on religion and aesthetics that this side Of him
lad developed the distinct injury If not destruction.
IF the higher instincts and capacities. H. states for
Example, that he grew TO care nothing for music art.
,r even scenery. Poetry be could no longer read He
ound Shakes Icarc inSuifcrably dull" and h. fell
,ny Into what he called acnostcsm, but what, accord
ng to his description. might well De thought more
positively pcSSlmstic.
Speaking OF the Orig'n Of Sp cies." b. says:
1t has sometimes been said that tho success of The
Origin" proved that the subject was in the air
Or that mems minds were prepared for it. do
not think that this IS strictly true for occasionally
sounded not few naturaliSis and never happened to
come across single one who seemed to doubt about
The pcrmancncc Of species. Even Lycll and Hooker.
though they would listen with interest 10 me- never
seemed TO agree / tried once twice to explain to
gnally failed. What believe strictly true -
hat lnnumcraL.e well observed fats stored u
he minds Of naturaists ready to take their proper
places AZ as any theory which would receive
hem was sufficiently explained. Another element Ia
he success Of the book was iis moderate slzc; and
his owe 70 the appearance OF Nj. aacc's essay
had / published the scale In which began 10
write IN I75G the book would have been four or five
times large the Origin and very few would
have had the patience to read It,
Another of his most interesting studies had the fol
lowing origin:
In the summer Of 1-GO was llling and resting
near fairfield where two species Of Dio,ca abound,
and noticed that numerous insect, had been cn-
trapped by tie leaves. carried home some plants.
and giving them Insects saw the movements Of the
tcnaclcs and this made me- think It probable that
the insects were caught for some special purpose.
crucial test occurred to that Of pac
Ing large number Of leaves in variors ntrogenous
and non-nitroecnous fluids Of equal density and as
soon ! found that the former alone excited cn"r
new field for investigation.
Speaking Of the changes his mind had undergone, he
says writing in 1s7G,
Ihavc said that in onc respect my mind has changed
during the last twenty or thirty ycar,. Up to tho
age Of thirty or beyond it, poetry Of many kinds,
such the works of Milton, Gray, Byron, Words
worth, Colcrldrc and shelley, great pleasure
and even As a schOolbOy took Intense delight In
shake pcrc. especially I'm the historical plays.
have also said that formerly pictures gave me con
Siderable and music very great delight But now
for many years / cannot endure TO read Iiuc Of
poetry Lave tried lately 10 read Shakes Icafc, and
found II 50 II tocraby dull that IT nanseacd me.
have also almost lost my taste for pictures or music
Music generally sets mo thinking too crcTectcalY
on what | have been at work Cn Instead OF giving
me pleasure / retain some taste for fine scenery,
but IL does not tho exquisite delight which
il fornrly did. On the other hand novels which are
works Of the Imagination, though not Of very high
r1cr have been for years a wonderful relief ana
pleasure TO me, and often bless all rOvcllstS. a
surprising number have been read aloud to me, AMI
like all If moderately good and If they do not ehd
lnhapplly- against which a law ought to DC passed
novel according 10 my taste, docs not come INTO the
first class unless 1t contains some person whom one
IAN thoroughly love, and II pretty woman all the
better.
THIS curious and lamcntallc loss Of the higher
rstbctc tastes is all the Od1er. looks on history
tdographics aud travels Independently OF any sci
,ntihc facts which they may ctnain), ana cs'ts ON
al, sorts of subjects interest a. much as ever they
l.o,c LccnInn a Mind nf